Switch-controlling mechanism



Feb. 12 1924; 1,483,715

J. F. BURNS SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Fe 27 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1924.

J. F. BURNS SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 12 1924.-

J. F. BURNS swnrcn CONTROLLING mscmmsm Filed Feb. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nuns r. scams, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ABBIGNOB To 1mm COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnnsynvnmn, A conronn'rron or PENNBYL- VANIA.

SWITCH-CONTROLLING MIXIHANISK.

Application filed February 27, 1920. Serial No. 361,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Switch-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a device whereby the blades of an electric switch shall be quickly and positively moved from an open to a closed position or vice versa after they have been manually brought to a predetermined position; the invention more particularly contemplating such an arrangement of parts as will prevent the possibility of an operator slowly opening or closing the switch or partially opening or closing it, since said mechanism is so designed as to insure the full opening or full closing of the switch blades without the possibility of their remaining in an intermediate position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel form of toggle mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the movable element or elements of an electric switch especially designed to prevent the sticking.

ceptacles or other accessories removable or operative by hand and associated with an electric switch, may be mounted, until such switch is fully opened, and which will prevent the closure of the switch as long as said door remains open, the door being automatically unlocked as soon as the switch is opened and the switch being automatically locked in its open position as long as the door is in any other position than fully closed.

I also desire to provide a novel form of switch controlling mechanism in combination with door locking means of the type above indicated, whose parts shall be so arranged that the operation of locking or unlocking of the door shall not interfere with the quick and positive opening and closing of the switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for preventing damage to the switch from the relatively violent hammer blow of the mechanism occurring when the blades are brought to rest after having been moved by my device to their open or closed positions.

Another object of my invention is the prov sion of a safety switch controlling mechanism for accomplishing the objects above outlined which shall be so associated with the switch itself as to permit of its convenlent removal and insertion without requlring disconnection or taking apart of the mechanism; the invention also contemplating a novel form of safety switch box of such construction as to be dust and moisture proof, together with novel means for holdmg its door or doors in their closed positions I after they have been brought thereto.

These objects and other advanta eons ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, re erence being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a safety switch constructed in accordance with my invention, and having its casing in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the switch shown in Fig. 1, with the covers removed to show the detail construction of the controlling .mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, illustrating the switch in its open and closed positions;

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations illustrating the operation of the controlling mechanism for the door of the fuse compartment; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 2, showing the detail construction of the operating handle and its associated parts. I

In the above drawings 1 represents an elongated containing box or casing prefer ably of pressed sheet metal, having in the present instance a fuse compartment 2 and a switch compartment 3 separated by a transverse partition 4; there being a hinged cover 5 for the fuse chamber or compartment 2 and a second hinged cover 6 for closing the switch compartment 3, which is preferably of greater depth than said former chamber. This latter cover 6 has a slot for a spring strip 7 projecting outwardly from the top of the partition 4 and formed with projecting shoulders Simmediately above the level of the top surface of said cover when this is closed, so as to prevent its accidental open- The slot for the strip 7 is of such width that these shoulders will clear its edge when said strip is sprung in one direction from its normal position, thereby allowin the cover to be raised, and the end of the strip is preferably provided with an o ening for the reception of .a adlock 9 w ereby the cover may be locked in its closed position;

A. similar spring retaining strip 10 is mounted on the inside surface of the lower end of the casing 1 so that it extends through a slot in the cover5 of the fuse compartment and it likewise is formed with laterally projecting shoulders 11 extending over the to surface of said cover to normally maintam it closed. It may be moved laterally in its slot to cause said shoulders to clear the edge thereof and to permit the cover to be opened, and it also is provided with an opening 12 for the reception of a suitable lock.

n accordance With my invention, an electric switch is mounted within the com artment 3 and a suitable fuse or fuses w thin the compartment 2. In the case illustrated this switch includes a base plate 13 fixed to the bottom or back of the casing 1 and having mounted upon it a pair of switch clips 14 to which are respectively pivoted two switch blades 15. These are designed to respectively coact with a second pair of clips 16 also mounted on the base 13 and each havin a terminal screw or equivalent device 1% for the attachment of the,terminals of a current supplycircuit.

Within the compartment 2 is mounted a second base 18 of insulating material having fixed to it in the present instance two pairs of spring fuse clips 19-19 of which one of each pair is connected to the adjacent switch clip 14 by a conductor in the form of a fiat bar 20 extended through a suitable insulating bushing 21 in the transverse partition 4; The other clip 19 of each of said bars is provided with a screw op equivalent device 22 for the attachment of a terminal forming part of a circuit to be supplied with current and it isnoted that the fuse clips 19 of each pair, as well as their associated switch clips 14 and 16 with the blade 15, are in a straight line extending longitudinally of the casing. p

or'operating the switch and controlling the door 5'of the fuse compartments, I provide a spindle or shaft 23 journalled in the sides of the casing and so positioned as to extend transversely through the switch compartment immediately under the conducting are 20, there being a sleeve 24 of insulating material mounted on this shaft to prevent short circuiting with either of said bars. One end of the shaft 23 is extended beyond the outside surface of the casing and has keyed on it a collar 25 (Fig. 8) provided with a projecting tooth 26 designed to'cooperate with the op osite walls of a recess 27 extending longitudinally in the hub or base of an o ratiru handle 28 loosely mounted on sai spindlia. The latter is provided with fiat, oppositely extending wings 29 from which a series of pins or teeth 30 roject toward the adjacent side of the casing 1 so as to mesh with the teeth of a segment 31 rotatably mounted on a headed stud 32 projecting from said casing.

This segment is rigidly connected to or formed integral with an intermediate member in the form of a late 33 havin a convex circularly curved portion 35 esigned to cooperate with a pro ecting arm 34 rigidly fixed-to one side of the cover 5 of the fuse compartment from which it projects at a point adjacent its pivotal or hinge axis. Said arm has formed in one side a concave circularly curved recess 36 so positioned that when the cover 5 is closed it is concentric with the stud 32 and its radius is slightly greater than that of the curved portion 35 of 1 the plate 33. As a consequence the latter is free to rotate without interference from said arm 34 as long as this occupies the position shown in Fi 6 and 7; i.ie.,'with the cover 5 in its fu ly closed position.

In addition the plate 33 likewise has a circularly curved concave portion 38 extendin from one end of the convex ortion 35 an so placed that when said p ate occu ies a definite position, i.e.,that shown in ig. 6, it is concentric with the pivotal axis of the cover 5 and will permit passage of the arm 34 whose portion 39 is a so-concentric with said pivotal axis and of slightly less radius than the curve of the portion 38.

The teeth of the segment 31 are so en aged with the teeth or pins 30 of the han le 28' that when the latter occupies one of its extreme positions in engagement with a stop 10 mounted on the side of the casing 1, the plate 33 is in such a position as to permit the curved portion 39 of the arm 34 to freely pass into the recess defined b its curve 38, and the cover 5 ma there ore be freely opened and closed, ion on the other hand, the handle 28 occupies its other extreme position (Fig. 7) in engagement with a second stop 41 on the'casing 1, the plate 33 is in a position in which its curved ortion 35 lies within the recess defined by t 1e portion 36, thus effectually preventin movement of the arm 35 an hence of t e cover 5 to which it is rigidly connected. Moreover the plate 33 and arm 34 are so designed that i when the handle 28 is in any other position except in engagement with the sto 40, some portion of the curved portion 35 0 said plate 33 extends under or interferes with the arm 34 so that the cover 5 cannot be moved on its pivot. Likewise when the-cover occupies any but its fully closed position, its arm 34 cffectually b ocks movement of the plate 33 and hence also of the handle 28 with its associated mechanism.

Rigidl fixed to the shaft 23 adjacent opposite si es of the switch compartment 3 are two projecting quadrants 42 each of which is radially slotted at 46 for the reception of a link 43 pivotally connected to it by a pin or rivet 44 adjacent its point of connection with said shaft. These two links project above their respective quadrants and are rigidly connected by a cross bar 45 so that they are necessarily moved in unison about the pivotal axis provided by said pins 44 within the limits defined by the ends of the slots 46.

The blades 15 of the switch are connected to move in unison, by a block 49 of insulating material for which purpose each of them has fixed in it a in 50 which projects into one end of said b ock so that the latter is free to rotate independently of said blades about said pins as an axis. An eye bolt 51 engages the central ortion of the cross bar 45 and extends there rom through the middle of the connecting block or bar 49 to which it is adjustably held by two nuts 52 and 53.

With this construction it is obvious that the switch blades with their connecting block are free to move with the cross bar 45 and the arms 43 independently of the quadrants 42 which as before noted are fixed to the operating shaft 23, and each of these segmental arms has pivotally connected to one end of its outer portion a link 55 having a longitudinally extending slot through which projects a pin 56 rigidly fixed to and extending inwardly from the adjacent side of the casing 1. Each link is connected to its quadrant 42 by a pivot 57 and has mounted on it a spring 58 confined between two cups 59 and 60, of which the first abuts against a stop in the form of a cotter pin 61 passing transversely through said link and the other abuts upon a pair of washers 62 mounted on the pin 56.

WVith this arrangement of parts each of the quadrants 42 and its associated link 55 constitutes a toggle, which under the action of the spring 58 tends to remain either in the upwardly bowed position shown in Fig. 4 or in the downwardly bowed position shown in Fig. 5. In the former case that end of each quadrant distant from the link 55 abuts against the partition 4, while in the second case the opposite end of said quadrant engages the floor or bottom of the switch compartment 3. The various parts are so proportioned and arranged that with the operating shaft 23 and hence the toggles 42-55 associated therewith, in the positions shown in Fig. 4, the links 43 necessarily occupy such positions that the switch blades 15 are in their open positions and cannot engage the slips 16 or even up roach dangerously near them even thougii saidlinks be moved to the extreme limit allowed by the slots 46. On the, other hand when the-operating shaft 23 occupies the position shown in Fig. 5, with the toggles 42-55 in the downwardly I bowed position, the switch blades are in engagement with their clips 16.

-With the above described mechanism ifit be assumed that the switch blades are in engagement with the clips 16, some part of the curved portion 35 of the late 33 lies under or immediately adjacent t e curved edge 36 of the arm 34 so that even though the lid or cover 5 of the fuse compartment be released from its spring holding strip 10, it cannot be opened. Under these conditions current is free to flow from conductors connected to the terminal screws 17 through the switch and the bars 20 to one set of the fuse clips 19 and if fuses are mounted in'said clips, to pass through the latter to the terminal screws 22 and hence to the circuit which is to be supplied with the current. The fuse clips and their associated arts within the compartment 2 are theref dre alive, and access to this compartment is effectually prevented.

In order to open the cover 5 to inspect or replace the fuses in the clips 19, it is necessary to first move the handle 28 in a counter clockwise direction, and it is noted that as it is turned from position in engagement with the stop 41 to and into its mid position, it does not rotate the operating shaft 23 'nor affect the closed switch, although through the teeth 30, it turns the blade 33 so as to partially move its curved edge from under the arm 34 of the cover 5.

When said handle reaches its mid position, i

one wallof its recess 27 comes into engagement with the tooth 26 of the collar 25 so that said shaft is thereafter turned with the handle toward the stop 40. As a consequence, the quandrants 42 are swung upwardly, likewise in a counter clockwise direction, until the pivot pin 57 passes beyond the straight line joining the centers of the pin 56 and the shaft 23. Thereupon the springs 58 instantly cause breakage of the toggles and turn the quadrants 42 with the operating shaft independently and ahead of, the handle 28.

This sudden and relatively violent movement of said quadrants 42 causes one end of each of their slots 46 to violently and suddenly engage its associated link 43 therein. so that both the latter are carried with said arms and the switch blades 15 are consequently instantaneously disengaged from their clips 16, as they are swung on their pivots in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the various parts is finally arrested by the free or outer ends of the quad rants 42 striking the partition 4 and it is particularly to-be noted that the shock due to such stoppage is not transmitted to nor permitted to affect any part of the switching mechanism.

Moreover not only are the blades capable of moving independently of their actuating quadrants 42 but the latter in turn are likewise so arranged as to move independently of the actuating handle 28, with the result that it is a physical impossibility to tease the switch; i. e.,-to partially open or close it or to so slowly open or close it that an arc would be maintained between its blades and clips 16. On the contrary the blades are necessarily in their fully closed positions within the clips 16 or they are in their fully opened positions distant from the clips, without there being any possibility of the operator of the handle 28 causing them to remain in any intermediate position.

After such opening of the switch has occured, the operating handle 28 may be brought into engagement with its final stop *40, at which time alone the plate 33 is clear of the arm 34, thus permitting the cover 5 to be swung on its hinges to allow of access to the fuse compartment.

If when this cover is open it should be attempted to close the switch, any movement of the operating handle 28 or of the shaft E3 is effectually prevented since the plate 33 at once comes into. engagement with the curved portion 39 of the arm 34 which blocks it and it is not until the cover 5 is moved to its fully closed position that said arm finally clears said plate, so that closure of the switch when the fuse compartment is open is an impossibility.

\Vhen the handle 28 is moved in a clockwise direction with a viewto closing the switch, as soon as it leaves the stop 40, a portion of the edge 35 of the plate 33 is inserted under'the arm 34. Thereafter said handle may be freely moved to its mid position with the result that said plate 33 is further swung under the arm 34 until when the wall of the recess 27 comes into engagement with the tooth 26 of the collar 25 the shaft 23 with its quadrants 42 are moved in a clockwise direction. Thiscauses a compression of the springs 58 until the to gles 42-55 pass their neutral point when t e expansion of said springs suddenly causes them to move into the position shown in Fi 5, in which they are brought to rest by their engagement with the back of the casing 1. Such sudden movement causes the members 43 with the blades 15 to likewise be moved from the o n to the fully closed positions altogether independently of the handle 28 and of said toggles and since the relatively violent movement of the latter is arrested by the casing, there is no resulting shock to or stress upon the switch proper. .With the parts in the above noted positions, (Fig. 5) the cover of the fuse compartment is immovably locked by the members heretofore described which occupy the positions shown in Fig. 7.

From the above description it will be noted that the parts are so arranged that when the switch is closed any force exerted upon the door of the fuse compartment has no effect upon the operating handle tending to cause this to actuate the switch, and vice versa, when the door is open, no force exerted upon the handle can have any effect upon said door tending to cause it to close.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the door of the fuse chamber can only be opened when the operating handle is in its fully off position, and is immediately locked from movement by any appreciable displacement of the handle in the direction necessary to'cause closure of the switch. More-. over, on the reverse movement of the bandle, there is no possibilit of unlocking the door until said handle as been so far moved as to insure the opening of the switch.

While I have referred to fuses and have shown fuse holding clips as mounted with n the compartment 2 whose door or cover 18 made to be dependent upon the switch and its controlling member, it is to be understood that the specific device or appara tus 1n said compartment is immaterial since the invention broadly contemplates the use of the mechanism shown for insuring that current is certainly cut off from the conductor or conductors leading into the compartment before its door or cover can be opened to permit access thereto.

I claim 1. The combination of a switch; an 105 operating member therefor; an intermediate member movable independently of the switch and of the operating member for transmitting movement from the latter to the former; an arm pivoted to the intermediate member and connected to the switch; and means for causing said intermediate member to inde endently actuate the switch through sai arm after said member has been brought by the operating member to'a predetermined position.

2. The combination of a switch; an operating member therefor; an intermediate member movable independently of the switch and of the operating member; an

arm pivoted on said intermediate member; a second arm connecting said, first arm and the switch; and a spring actuated member for independently moving the intermediate member through said arms after the former 125 has been moved by the operating member to a predetermined, position.

3. The combination of a switch; a quickmake-and-break device including a spring toggle having a slotted link; an arm piv- 130 oted to said link and extending through the slot thereof; means connecting said arm with the movable element of the switch; and an operating member for actuating said device, the latter bein operative to open and close the switch independently of the operating member after the latter has been moied to a predetermined position. 4. The combination of a switch; an operating member therefor; an intermediate member for operatively connecting said switch and said member; with a lost motion connection between the switch and the intermediate member including two arms of which one is pivoted on said member; and a second lost motion connection between the intermediate member and the operating member includin a shaft carrying said intermediate member, and a tooth on said shaft actuated by the operating member.

5. The combination of a, switch; an opcrating shaft; a quadrant fixed to said shaft; a member actuated by said quadrant and having a limited movement independently thereof; means for connecting said member to the movable element of. the switch; and a handle for actuating the shaft having a lost motion connection therewith.

6. The combination of an electric switch; an operating shaft; a handle; gearing con necting the handle and the shaft and constructed to permit limited movement thereof independently of the handle; and a quiclemakeand-break device connected be tween the shaft and the movable element of the switch, the same consisting of a spring actuated toggle having one element connected to the shaft; and means for operatively connecting the movable element of the switch to said to le.

JAM F. BURNS. 

